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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Fenugreek Advise

20 replies

HaveToWearHeels · 05/02/2010 14:49

DD is weeks and is EBF, about 10 days ago she took a dislike to my right boob which I posted about and gained advise. Nothing much has changed she is still fussy on that boob but I express through the day and give her that in a bottle before bed along with my left boob. In the last 24 hours she has hardly fed at all and I have just expressed both boobs after she wouldn't take her lunchtime feed and have got just drops out and I am panicing big time. I have sent other half out for Fenugreek and he has come back with Fenugreek Seed 610mg capsules, is this the right stuff ? As the bottle says do not use if you breast feeding or pregnant.
HELP.....I really don't want to give my little baby formula but I also do not want her to starv.

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Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 05/02/2010 15:09

20 WEEKS...Sorry

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Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 05/02/2010 16:23

bump

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princesslina · 05/02/2010 17:41

I have just dug out a sheet I have that lists the most commonly used herbal galactogogues (helping to increase milk supply) and for fenugreek they have 1-4 capsules 590-610mg, 3-4 times per day.
Sounds liek you have the right thing, were they from Holland and Barret I have bought them there before. Hope this helps.
P.S Info on the sheet seems to come from the ILCA website.

Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 05/02/2010 18:39

princesslina thanks for that great help. No they weren't from Holland and Barratt I bought them online and looks like they were packaged in the states which is probably why there is the warning (covering themselves due to litigation)

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sweetexpectation · 05/02/2010 19:44

I took Fenugreek 610, i got it from Holland and Barrat, mine also says consult your doc if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.I think its alright to take it as it was recommended to me by my midwife and it has helped me so much.Just so you would know, your body scent changes, i had to quite struggle between having enough milk for my baby and my urge to stop taking the it as it was making me stink so much.

Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 05/02/2010 20:16

Thanks sweetexpectation I thought it was probably OK but DP started getting a panic on. I think they tend to put it on everything these days. I have heard it makes you stink, not looking foward to that at all lol. Is it a bad smell ?

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MrsKitty · 05/02/2010 20:23

Makes you smell of quite pungent curry, and your wee smell like very strong maple syrup. It's far from pleasant, but it's not awful.

Jenanne · 05/02/2010 20:25

I have had similar issues with DS (19 wks) who is EBF. I think my fenugreek tabs are 590mg, I have been taking 2 three times a day. DS seems to feed longer though I still have to switch sides several times during a feed to maintain his interest (as reccomended by NCT BF counsellor). The fenugreek just makes your sweat & pee smell v sweet, like maple syrup! Good luck x

Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 05/02/2010 20:39

Maple Syrup sounds OK, not sure about the curry though lol. DP might like it though he likes a good curry . I hope it works for me I really don't want to give up BF. My poor little girl downed 9oz's of formula around 3.30 today she must have been starving as she has always refused formula in the past. I then paniced and rang NCT breastfeeding helpline, they were so so helpful and really encouraging.

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crikeybadger · 05/02/2010 21:39

I'm on the fenugreek too but not sure what I smell like- (must ask DH later!). Glad you've got some good advice from the helpline.
Don't forget that if your supply is low, then the best thing to do is feed, feed, feed. I was advised to feed two hourly and 3 hourly in the night
Another piece of great advice was to purchase a nursing supplementer. It's a funny looking device that comprises a bottle which you fill with milk (EBM or formula) and very thin tubes that you stick to you breasts. This way, you are still stimulating the breasts and the baby is getting an extra bit of milk coming through the tube which gives them an extra incentive to feed. Mine was a Medela one and I was using it because my DS had lost alot of weight. You don't say that you little one has lost weight but it's an idea anyway and may address the fussiness issue. HTH

Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 05/02/2010 21:59

crikeybadger Thanks for the advise. She normally feeds pretty regularly when we are at home (little and often) but goes longer if we are out and about. I will look into the nursing supplementer, sounds like a good idea as she is getting very frustrated.
She hasn't lost weight as yet but she has dropped centiles and is gaining very little, although HV seems to think everything is OK (or was at last visit).

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Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 06/02/2010 11:02

Bloody hell Fenugreek is amazing. I took 3 yesterday afternoon and three before I went to bed. When DD wike at 6.30 this morning, I hade one averagely full boob and one that was fit to burst. Oh and yes my wee smells like curry, not attractive.

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crikeybadger · 06/02/2010 17:32

That's great news. Curry smelling wee... could be worse I suppose.( curry smelling of wee for example)

Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 06/02/2010 20:18

Sure could be Crikey, at least I have a very contented little girl now, I almost broke my heart yesterday when I thought I would have to give up BF.

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yummumto3girls · 06/02/2010 20:30

Havetowear - what type of fenugreek and how much did you end up taking - I need some!?

Newbeginning1 · 07/02/2010 00:55

Crikeybadger - Where did you get your nursing supplementer from?

crikeybadger · 07/02/2010 10:41

Newbeginning1- I got the nursing supplementer through a supplier on Amazon called Mums-n-Bumps. It cost nearly 20 quid with shipping but has been worth it.

Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 07/02/2010 11:50

yummumto3girls I got my Fenugreek online at www.healthmonthly.co.uk
Loads cheaper than Holland and Barratt but you obviously have to wait for delivery (3 days in my case).
It is actually called "Fenugreek Seed" and comes in 610mg capsules.

The first day I took 3 capsules about 3pm and 3 again at 11pm by the morning there was a noticeable difference in my milk supply, it was amazing.

I am still taking 2 capsules 3 times a day.

Good luck and let me know how you get on.

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yummumto3girls · 07/02/2010 19:32

HaveToWearHeels - thanks for that. Went to Holland & Barrett today but they were shut so will have to go in the morning. My DD3, 15 weeks, has been really unsettled on my right breast and been feeding more from left. It's got worse over weekend and has hardly fed at all today. I think it may be my supply as she gets angry when it slows down. Will give fenugreek ago and see if makes a difference. Will report back Tuesday! Hope things are still going ok with you.

Original poster

HaveToWearHeels · 07/02/2010 20:58

yummumto3girls sounds exactley the same as happened to be. DD was very fussy on right breast about 10 days ago and was prefering the left. I tried expressing after every feed but not much change really. Then on Thursday she started fussing on the left breast, wasn't really sure what was happening but then on Friday about 3pm I realised she hadn't really fed since 7pm that morning, the odd five minutes or so.

We were away Thursday and Friday so thought the change of scene might have been why she wasn't concentrating on feeding. But when she downed (turned her nose up at formula before) 2ozs formula, followed by another 2, followed by another 3, then finally finishing on a total of 9ozs I knew something was wrong so started on the Fenugreek (it was delivered while we were away) and it worked overnight.

Right breast is still slower than left but she is happier on it for longer now so hopefully it will improve.

Fingers crossed for you

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